Magnanti's Stellar Defense Earns Gold Glove Award

By John Boccacino

CANANDAIGUA —Whether with his potent bat or his stellar glove, Finger Lakes Community College sophomore Mike Magnanti (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Athena) did it all for the Lakers during the 2017 season. 

The postseason accolades continued to pile up for Magnanti, whose stellar play at shortstop earned him a Rawlings Gold Glove honor from the American Baseball Coaches' Association (ABCA) and Rawlings for Division III.

Magnanti saw 161 total chances at shortstop this year, recording 57 putouts with 98 assists with six errors, good for a .963 fielding percentage. Magnanti led the Lakers in assists and helped turn 18 double plays while appearing in all 44 games. 

The ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Awards® are determined by the NJCAA Division III Baseball Committee. 

The Gold Glove award is the latest postseason honor for Magnanti, who for the second straight season was named the Mid-State Athletic Conference's (MSAC) Baseball Player of the Year.

Magnanti, an NJCAA Second-Team All-American in 2016, led the team in batting average, runs, and stolen bases. He batted .425 (54-for-127) with 39 runs scored and 19 stolen bases in 22 attempts.

Magnanti, who signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Division I St. Bonaventure University of the Atlantic 10 Conference in the fall, added five doubles, two triples, and drove in 25 runs for FLCC, which compiled an 18-26 overall record (14-13 in Region III) during the 2017 season.